Court Rules Continuation of Arrest of Nuriye Gülmen
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Fifth trial of arrested academic Nuriye Gülmen and teacher Semih Özakça, who are on the 264th day of their hunger strike, and teacher Acun Karadağ is being held today (November 27).
Ankara 19th Heavy Penal Court in Sincan Prison Campus rejected Gülmen's and her lawyers' request for release and ruled the continuation of her arrest.
The next hearing is on December 1, 2017.
Prosecutor demanded release
In his dictum, prosecutor has demanded release on probation of academic Gülmen, who is the only arrested defendant in the hearing, on the ground that “there is no potential of her running away or obfuscating the evidence” at Ankara 19th Heavy Penal Court in Sincan Prison Campus.
Gülmen attended the previous hearing via Audio and Visual Information System (SEGBİS).
"In the past two hearings, I explained how bad my detention conditions are and that sufficient conditions for me to be able to make a statement of defense are not met. Since there is no doubt that I might run away or obfuscate the evidence, this detention is a punishment. As I demand my release, I don't want you to do me a favor but just practice legal rules".
Özakça was released in the third hearing. The three figures have been tried on charges of “being a member of an armed terror organization”, “opposing to Law on Rallies and Demonstrations” and “propagandizing for a terror organization”.
About Nuriye Gülmen and Semih Özakça
On January 6, 2017, Nuriye Gülmen was discharged from her position through the Statutory Decree No. 679 issued under the State of Emergency.
On October 29, 2016, Semih Özakça was discharged from his position through the Statutory Decree No. 675 issued under the State of Emergency.
On March 9, 2017 Gülmen and Özakça went on an indefinite and non-alternate hunger strike in front of the Human Rights Statute on Yüksel Street in Turkey's capital city of Ankara.
They were taken into custody and later released several times during their hunger strike.
Being charged with "being a member of a terrorist organization" ,"opposing to the Law on Assembly and Demonstration" and "propagandizing for a terrorist organization", they were arrested on May 23.
On September 14, ahead of the first hearing, Sincan prison gendarmerie commandership sent an official report for Gülmen and Özakça not to be brought to court on the pretext of “security, lack of staff and health conditions”.
Nuriye Gülmen was taken to Numune Hospital from the prison hospital on the 202nd day (September 26) of her hunger strike.
Semih Özakça was released in the third hearing. (AS/TK)